Improvement in apparatus for laying out stair-rails



ilinitrd mira- ANDREW SCHOLLARS, LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS.

Lettcfrs Patent No. 97,707, dated December 7, 1,869.

IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS POR LAYING OUT STAIR-RAILS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it Imay concern Be it known that I, ANDREW SCHOLLARS, of the city of Leavenworth, in the county of Leavenworth, and State of Kansas, have invented a new and vimproved Apparatns for Laying Out Stair-Rails; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact desci'iption thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and nsethe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l is an elevation; I

Figure 2, a plan ortopview of my invention; and

Figure 3, a part in detail, to be more particularly referred to hereafter.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction and use of au apparatus for describing, upon a plank or board, the lines necessary to guide the artisan in cutting out a hand-rail for stan-ways, and similar curved bodies,4 without first having to geo metrically project such lines; and for holding the .board or plank securely while the operation ofcutting is performed.`

By my invention, any mechanic of ordinary intelligence, but without any knowledge of drawing or projection, will be enabled to do what otherwise. would requiredeep study, and the skill acquired by long experience or'practice.

In the drawing- A A arethe sides or walls of a boi.: or room.

On the floor, side-walls, and ceiling, if necessary, I ines shown in red are drawn to represent the planes within which. the' object to be produced will exist after being developed.

Onthe door, at the intersection of the'linesrepresenting the planes which cross each other at right angles, say at the centre of a newel-space, a vertical cylindrical post or sliaft,.D, is erected, which does not revolve, and is also marked i'oni top to bottoni with lines indicating thc saine planes.

Loose, on the shaft D, is a sleeve, B, free to revolve and slide vertically.

The sleeve B carries a. sweeping arm, C, having one end tted with a pencil, or other marking-device, A

and made to be adjusted and set at any distance from the axis of the post- D.

G, tig. 3, is a staff or post, standing with its base firm on the floor at a convenient distance from the post D on one ofthe central lines of the uewel-space, as'shown by dotted lines in iig. 2.

The head of this post has a sharp point, and it is adjustable vertically by slides and set-screws.

An arm, H, having :i pointed extremity, is also made adjustable on the post G, so that the line between the two points of Gr' and H may be inclined at any angle from the horizon, and be at any angle with the plane passing through the posts D and G.

N N are two vertical hars or post-s, across which extends the cross-bar M, which is secured by the slots and set-screws a b to the posts N, at any required lheight, and at any required deviation from a horizontal position.

O O are braces, each hinged by one end to the foot of the post N, and free at the other end to be attached to, and securely hold the plank to be operated upon.

K is a stop attachedto the floor in such a manner and position as to hold the end of the board or plank to be cnt from slipping on the floor.

On the cross-bar M are fixedtwo liiuged plates,cc, shown in plan, fig. 2, by dotted lines. s

The' oice of these plates is to hold the head of the plank down to the banM, by being screwed to it, and thus preventit from flying up, or being pulled up by the action of the tool in cutting.

The plates being hinged, allow the plank and bar M to lie in any two di'erent planes, while the plates themselves will lie fair against both,and when screwed fast, perform their office eectually.

The opeiation of m'y invention is as follows:

The plank is set with its foot against the stop K, and raised at the other end until itis at the saine angle with the oor that the stairs will forni.

The post G, and arin H, are now adjusted against the under side, in such a manner as to cant the plank, and give it as much inclination, in' a transveise dircction, as' is necessary to givethe spring of the hand-mil, and togenable the workman to make the inost'of his material. g

The bar M is now brought up to thehhead of the plank, and is-,secured to the uprights N N, in a po'- sition which vwill bring its upper edge in contact with the lower side of the plank for its whole width, when the loose halves ofthe hinged plates c c will be screwed to the plank, and hold it securely.

The free ends of the braces O O are next attached to the plank, near its lower end, and the plank is ready for scribing.

Lines are diaw'n on the lower end of the plank, in

prolongation of those on the walls and floor, as here .inbeforel mentioned, which lines, as shown in the draw ing, are the limits of the rail to be cut. 'lhe sweep C is adjusted to these lines, andl is applied to the suiface of the board orA plank, on which it rises, as it swings in a circle around the shaft-.1),

leaving, onthe surface of the board, curved lines, of the forni requisite to guide the workman in cutting out the rail.

This is done while the plank is still rigidly held by the braces and cross-bar, in order that the workman may be assisted, bythe lines on thc wall and door, to keep his saw in a perpendicular plane, and be otherwise enabled to perform his -Work with accuracy and dispatch.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters latcnt, is-

1. -The supplementary post G, and -arm H, with their points made adjustable in any vertical and horizoutall, or inclined plane, substantially as described, for the purpose of supporting the board, (or plank to be cut,) in an inclined position, as specified.

2. The nprights N, and their braces O, and the cross-bar M, with its hinged plates c c, arranged substantially as described, for vthe purpose of securely holding the'head of the plank while describing and cutting the required 'curved piece.

ANDREW SCHOLLARS.

Witnesses:

RrcirARD R. BEES, J. A. WELLERS. 

